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UK Americana Awards Nominations Announced

The Americana Music Association UK has chosen celebrated singer-songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson to receive its highest honour, the UK Americana Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of his contribution to the Americana genre over the span of his career and life in music.

Acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest guitarists and most prolific songwriters, Thompson has been a ground-breaking force both in terms of his own acclaimed albums and live shows and his influence on other musicians.

The announcement took place at the press launch for the 2017 UK Americana Awards, held at Gibson Studios in London on 15th November and co-presented by Imelda May and BBC Radio 2 DJ Baylen Leonard.

“I was so pleased to be asked to present the nomination party alongside Baylen. The AMAUK are a fantastic organisation doing so much to support up and coming UK Americana talent and the awards are a great excuse to celebrate everything achieved so far!”Imelda May

The nominations shortlist for the seven membership-voted Awards was also announced and the winners will be revealed at the second annual Awards show on Thursday 2nd February 2017 at St John at Hackney. The show will be hosted by legendary broadcaster Bob Harris and will feature performances from nominees and award winners, including Richard Thompson.

The awards show also coincides with the first anniversary of the Official Americana Albums Chart, which was launched this year by the Official Charts Company in partnership with the AMA-UK and is published each week on OfficialCharts.com. To celebrate the occasion, the best selling UK Americana album of 2016 will be recognised with a special award.

The UK Americana Awards are part of AmericanaFest UK, a two-day event which will also include an evening of showcases on Wednesday 1st February featuring twenty bands playing in various venues around Hackney alongside daytime conferences on both days.

International Album of the YearA Sailor’s Guide To Earth by Sturgill Simpson (produced by Sturgill Simpson)American Band by Drive-By Truckers (produced by David Barbe)Angeleno by Sam Outlaw (produced by Ry Cooder and Joachim Cooder)Midwest Farmer’s Daughter by Margo Price (produced by Alex Munoz and Matt Ross-Spang)

UK Song of the Year
‘Mr Sunshine’ by Peter Bruntnell (written by Peter Bruntnell and Bill Ritchie)
‘Silver Liner’ by Ethan Johns & the Black Eyed Dogs (written by Ethan Johns)
‘Tend To The Thorns’ by William the Conqueror (written by Ruarri Joseph)
‘The 4:19’ by Lewis & Leigh (written by Al Lewis and Alva Leigh)

International Song of the Year
‘Dust’ by Lucinda Williams (written by Lucinda Williams)
‘Hands of Time’ by Margo Price (written by Margo Price)
‘Somebody Save Me’ by Cale Tyson (written by Cale Tyson)
‘Welcome To Earth (Pollywog)’ by Sturgill Simpson (written by Sturgill Simpson)